Euronews

The opposition claim that the numbers show that they were the real winners.

The party of the jailed former prime minister Julia Tymochenko, Fatherland, had formed an opposition alliance to show a more united front to the president.

They campaigned saying that corruption, lawlessness and low pay were all evils represented by President Yanukovich.

The party leader Arseny Yatseniuk said: “The exit poll results show it is absolutely clear that the Ukrainian people support the opposition and not the authorities. It is most important now that the polls are closed and the votes are being counted, that there should be no falsification. The vote count in every single constituency is essential.”

The combined weight of Fatherland and the centre-right UDAR party of the boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko would appear to outpunch the ruling Party of Regions.

UDAR’s campaign leader Vitaly Kovalchuk said: “We will propose to our colleagues in opposition, first of all, to Fatherland, a plan of joint action aimed at reinforcing Ukraine’s movement toward Europe, and steering Ukraine on the path of democratic development.”

euronews correspondent in Kyiv, Evguenia Rudenko, reported from UDAR headquarters where she said: “The disenchantment with the exit polls was palpable. The party leader has alleged mass fraud, and now everybody is awaiting the official results from the Electoral Commission.”